Tornado + Split level house = ?

[Kiel Ortega]

Just a note I thought I would throw in here. The house where the girl was killed in the Rogers, MN tornado was a split-level or one with a half basement (basically, the same type as described in earlier posts). It turned into a slider and the whole upper part of the house ended up in the lower floor. I don't know how much house type matters with survivability (though a true basement probably helps) so much as quality construction and luck.

 

[Bob Schafer]

We aren't building a basement(just a little storage area) but we are getting one of those storm-ready rooms, which I hear a lot of the new contractors(especially around the OKC area) put into your plans per request.

Just how tough do they advertise those rooms to be? If you say EF-5 tough, I say nonsense, but EF-4, perhaps?

Shame on all of you who would be cowering in fear at a tornado's approach!! You're stormCHASERS, aren't you? Be the hunter, not the hunted!!!

......j/k.

 

[Danny Neal]

Just how tough do they advertise those rooms to be? If you say EF-5 tough, I say nonsense, but EF-4, perhaps?

Shame on all of you who would be cowering in fear at a tornado's approach!! You're stormCHASERS, aren't you? Be the hunter, not the hunted!!!

......j/k.

LOL I was aiming toward my parents who cower in the sight of a dark cloud haha. Running from a storm is probably the DUMBEST thing you can do. Of course most of us are storm chasers here so it would be very non life threatening and if anything will witness the destruction of own house lol. Being in the basement (or storm ready room) is the safest thing hands down. How stupid would one feel if they were hurt/killed in a traffic jam running from a tornado, only to learn later on(well not if they are dead lol) that the tornado missed their home by 5 miles. I guess if you are out in Hicksville or away from any sort of city the risk would be generally low to flee. When I finally build my OWN house it will be in middle of no where, single story, with a safe room and lots of open country haha.

 

[David Drummond]

I would say this is pretty dramatic:

 

[Terry Tyler]

Just how tough do they advertise those rooms to be? If you say EF-5 tough, I say nonsense, but EF-4, perhaps?

man, that reminds me of some storm shelters i seen around here...i wish i could take some pictures for you to see it...

they are apparently pre-cast concrete/steel storm shelters...im sure they are FEMA/NSSA certified or whatever, but it didnt look to good to me...if i seen a big tornado coming for me, and i lived in that house...i would get in a car and start running before i went in that shelter...

the structure itself was definatly of good make...but it was an above-ground type storm house, and it was pretty much a solid concrete-steel saferoom sitting out in a field with a little bit of dirt (not even 1/3 the way up) on the sides of it...

i figured a strong enough tornado could pick the whole thing up and send it flying...and if you think thats bad...you should see the one on mr. smiths property...his storm house is above ground too, but its make of brick, and mortar and the roof is made of standard wood, and shingles...

he would probably stand a much better chance inside of his home then in the shelter he goes to whenever storms are in the area...

 

[David Poch]

Wow that is a pretty sturdy room that was built. Did it say what event that was? I can almost be certain that is in Moore the fast food signs give it away. I lived in that neighborhood and my house got hit on May 8th of 03.

I remember as a kid going into the hallway with a bunch of pillows and blankets. When my parents built thier next house they had it made with a full basement and that is where they hunker down during storms. That is in Illinois, the only houses around here that have basements seem to be older homes. Personally if I had to choose I would take a basement.

David

 

[David Drummond]

That was in the last Moore, OK tornado I believe.

 

[Bob Schafer]

That was in the last Moore, OK tornado I believe.

It looks pretty impressive, alright, but then I remember the story of the FULL grain bin being blown away... I think it was even you who related that story to me, David! Imagine your neighbor's Hummer slamming into the "safe room" at 200 mph. Might maintain it's integrity, but I'd rather be in the basement, tyvm.

 

[John Wetter]

Here's a split level house with a walk-out after a fairly low-medium tornado:

Here's a report on the event:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/assessments/pdfs/RogersAssessment.pdf

The sad part about the report and all of the attention around it is that the building standards are what really got the people in trouble and that will likely be the piece never really looked at in this case.

-John

 

[Jim Lahey]

I found a old study from the 1966 Topeka tornado, which describes how different kinds of basements held up. For the walkout type it said debris flew in through the walls and windows and the ceilings above the walkout part were blown away in most cases. Pretty interesting because I live in Topeka.

http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/mwr/095/mwr-095-06-0370.pdf

 

[fplowman]

I think a wall of concrete is pretty safe to hide behind. But if I had my druthers I would be about 1/4 - 1/2 mile slightly to the southeast out of its path and observing it, depending on road options.

On a traditional NE mover anyways.

lol